Animal-poke.



W. A. HAGER.

ANIMAL POKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-31.1913.

1,157,529.. Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

coLL'MmA PLANOGRAPH C0,,WASHINGTON, D. c.

W. A. HAGER.

ANIMAL POKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31. 1913.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (IO-,WASHINGTON, D. C.

WILLIAM A. HAGER, F TEXIIOMA, OKLAHOMA.

ANIMAL-POKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. HAGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Texhoma, in the county of Texas and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Animal-Pokes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animal pokes, and it has for its object to produce a poke of simple and improved construction by the use of which an animal shall be prevented from going through a fence by passing beneath or between the fence wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which, while simple in construction and effective in use, shall be so arranged that it will not injure or discommode the animal wearing the same unless attempting to go through a fence.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention. it being. however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations, and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired. 1

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the animal to which the improved poke has been applied. Fig. 2 is a. top plan view showing the poke detached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the poke detached. Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention as applied to an animal and with dotted lines illustrating the operation of the same. Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the modifified form of the device detached. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the same.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a saddle strap or band which is preferably made of metal such as hand iron. Said saddle band is provided adjacent to one end with a fastening member, such as a buckle 6, and at the other end with a strap 7 adapted to engage said buckle for the purpose of securing the device in position upon the back Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 31, 1913.

Patented @ct. 119, 1915.

Serial No. 7454M.

of an animal. such as a cow C, as seen in Fig.

1. The back band or sadd e 5 is curved to portion of said arch or saddle by fastening members. such as rivets 8, are rearwardly extending prongs or barbs 9 which will normally lie flat upon the back of the animal and upwardly and rearwardly extending strapslO may be arranged to cross'each other, as seen in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, being connected together at the point of interseo tion by a rivet 11, or said straps may be secured together flatwise by a rivet 18, as seen in Fi s. 4-to 6. inclusive. In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the ends of the straps 10 are bent to form terminal hooks 12. and in Figs. 4: to 6, inclusive. the connected ends fthe straps are shaped to form a single book 1 1..

Under the modified, construction illus trated in Figs. 41 to 6. inclusive, the straps 1O serve for the attachment of rearwardly extend ng pivo ed arms that are connected together by a back engaging pad 16 which latter s connected with the top of the arch or saddle member 5 by means of a coiled spring 17.

Many animals when young acquire the habit of crawling beneath or b tween the wires of pasture fences, especially when a fence consisting of but few strands is used and where the fence posts area considerable distance apart: this regardless of whether plain or barbed fence wires are used. iVhen an animal becomesolder, it is ditiicult to break it of this habit because the wires even when barbed are not heeded by the animal. By applying the simple device herein described in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing, it is evident that when the animal attempts to pass beneath or between the fence wires, one of such wires is bound to become engaged by the books 12 or 14, as the case may be. The strain exercised upon said hooks will tilt the back band or saddle in a. rearward direction. thus causing the prongs or barbs 9 to prick the animal which will thus be discouraged from the attempt to pass through the fence. It is evident that the pain inflicted by the prongs 9 will increase as long as the effort to go through the fence is continued, while as soon as such effort is discontinued. the pain will cease. Under the construction shown in Figs. t to 6, inclusive, the back engaging pad 16 actuated by the spring 17 will assist Secured on the bridge.

in restoring the device to a position in Which the barbs 9 will be raised from engagement with the back ofthe'animal as soon as backward strain against the hook 14: is discontinued. By this invention the animal will be quickly broken of the habit tially fiat on the back of the animal and will cause no discomfort whatever, being in this respect-materially difierent from de* vices inwhich prongs or barbsare employed that are disposedobliquely or substantially atright'angles with respect to the back of the animal and where such prongs, by the mere ordinary motions of the animal, are liable to prick and cause extreme discomfort. By the present invention no discomfort will be caused unless the animal endeavors tobreak through a fence, and in such case the discomfort will cease as soon as the e flort to break through is discontinued. The animal will thus be quickly broken of the bad habit without causing the excrutiating suffering entailed by the use of some devices.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the class described, a saddle member consisting of a rigid back engaging portion and a belly engaging strap, a back engaging prong connected with and lying in the plane of the back en- Copies of this patent may be obtained for gaging portion, extending rearwardly therefrom and lying flatwise for substantially its entire length onthe back of the animal to which the device is applied, and a hook member extending upwardly with respect to the back engaging portion and having a terminal hook turned forwardly whereby by the engagement of such hook with an obstruction the rigid back engaging portion of the saddle member will be tilted, causing the free end of the prong to be pressed down ward.

2. In a device of the class described, a saddle member consisting of a rigid back engaging portion and a belly engaging strap, a back engaging prong connected with and lying in the plane of the back engaging portion, extending rearwardly therefrom and lying flatwise for substantially its entire length on the back of the animal to which the device is applied, and a hook member extending upwardly with respect to the back engaging portion and having a terminal hook turned forwardly whereby by the engagement of such hook with an obstruction the rigid back engaging portion of the saddle member will be tilted, causing the free end of the prong to be pressed downward; in combination with spring means for restoring the back engaging portion of the saddle member and related parts to normal position without being tilted.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM A. HAGER.

Witnesses: v

T. R. GOODMAN, JAMES O. LYNCH.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents.

'' Washington, D. C.

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